Sreeshankar targets World Championships comeback after ‘a potential career-ending injury’

Just months before the Paris Summer Games, an injury derailed Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar’s 15-year-old dream of competing at the Olympics. A rupture to his patellar tendon meant Sreeshankar needed major surgery. The 25-year-old got the procedure done in Doha, Qatar and is now making his way back to training, with his sights set on the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.

Sportstar caught up with the jumper on his recovery, the emotional impact of missing the Olympics, his training routine and more. Excerpts:

Q: How is your knee now?

A: The knee is absolutely fine now. I’ve already completed my rehabilitation schedule. I started my sports-specific training last month. Things are progressing quite well.

What exactly went wrong with the knee? Can you break down the injury and what the initial days of dealing with it looked like?

I had a patellar tendon rupture, commonly known as ‘jumper’s knee.’ I completely ruptured my patellar tendon and had to undergo major knee surgery. To be honest, it was potentially a career-ending injury because the patellar tendon is crucial for me. The initial days after surgery were quite challenging. My leg was completely immobilised, and I was unable to move without crutches or support. However, I ensured that my rehab and recovery protocols were diligently planned and charted out in consultation with experts at Aspetar Hospital in Qatar.

Rehabilitation was initially managed by the Inspire Institute of Sport under the guidance of my physio, Dr Priyam Singh, and the sports science team led by Dr Samuel A. Pullinger. I then spent a brief four-week period continuing my rehab at Aspetar Hospital. It was particularly tough for me because this type of injury is relatively uncommon. Most knee injuries are ligament-related, but mine was tendon-related and required surgical intervention.

There wasn’t much literature available on this type of injury, so the rehab protocols and my recovery plan had to be tailored based on how my body responded to training. I started sports-specific routines almost eight months ago, and things have been progressing smoothly since then.

What guards are being put in a place, so you don’t stress out the knee similarly again?

I won’t go into the technical aspects of the injury, but jumper’s knee is usually caused by overload issues. If the knee is subjected to excessive load and an insufficient recovery period, the tendon undertakes more load, leading to a tear. Therefore, managing the load properly, allowing for sufficient recovery, and following proper rehab protocols are crucial to maintaining knee health for a longer period.

Also read | Murali Sreeshankar — ‘Kobe Bryant will always remain at the core of my heart’

How did you stay motivated through this recovery and rehab phase?

This journey has been quite taxing, both mentally and physically, but I had great support from some wonderful people around me. I worked closely with my sports psychologist and physio, who were fully dedicated and on their toes throughout my rehabilitation. I also received tremendous support from my friends and family, ensuring I got back on track as quickly as possible.

Additionally, a few other friends were going through similar situations, and we motivated and helped each other along the way. At IIS, the atmosphere is excellent. All the athletes support one another, creating a positive and encouraging environment. The training is enjoyable, and even the rehab protocols are made engaging. We focus on improving by one per cent every single day to get back in shape.

Thanks to this strong support system, I didn’t feel like I had missed out on anything significant.

How hard was the post-surgery phase?

Physical pain was nothing compared to the mental strain involved, because at that time, I was still digesting the fact that I was going to miss the Olympics. At the same time, I didn’t let my emotions overwhelm me. While I was preparing for my surgery, we had already started planning the rehab and everything that came next. Right after surgery, we mapped out what lay ahead of us for the next six to eight months. We drew a route map and guidelines to be followed, so once those phases were achieved, we would be right back in place.

You are someone with a disciplined schedule. Did the injury disrupt that?

It wasn’t disrupted; if anything, it became more rigorous because I had rehab sessions three times a day after my injury. I had to walk from my hostel room to the High Performance Centre, which took me around 10 to 15 minutes as I was using crutches. I focused on strengthening the muscles around my knee that weren’t involved in the injury to ensure they remained fit and healthy. I also worked on my upper body, as my lower body was immobilised.

Every morning at 7am, I made sure to complete my upper body training, which stayed on track. I followed my regular athlete’s diet and training regimen. Since I wasn’t able to go out, I didn’t eat junk food or anything unhealthy. During this phase, I focused on building myself into a better version of myself.

How did you mentally deal with missing the Olympics?

I was on commentary during the long jump event at the Olympic Games, watching the event and offering insights. It was an unfortunate moment because this was the day I had been working towards my entire life. At the same time, I enjoyed the event. What’s in the past is in the past; we must focus on what lies ahead. We are already planning for the next LA 2028 Olympics, and I am hopeful that I will achieve what I missed out on in Paris.

Also read | Murali Sreeshankar’s parotta sacrifice extends to 2024 Paris Olympics

Your love for parotta is well-known. How did you manage your food cravings during the recovery phase?

Obviously, I used to eat junk food a lot… sugar, and everything before. During my recovery phase, I wasn’t able to move from one place to another. I had cravings, but I wasn’t able to indulge in them. The recovery process was a very diligent one and it demanded discipline. I had to ensure that my body was clean and healthy so that it responded well to training. My body is quite resilient because I take care of it properly. When it came to a situation where my body had to recover from a bad injury, it responded positively because it was healthy. That’s why I was able to recover in 10 percent of the time the doctors and everyone predicted. I personally feel that once you’re an elite-level athlete, a disciplined lifestyle has to be maintained.

What was the injury phase like for your dad who is so involved in your life as an athlete? How did you both support each other through it?

He wasn’t there with me throughout the process, and he regretted not being able to be there. He watched me improve by one per cent every day – from using crutches, to walking with one crutch, to walking without any crutches, then gradually walking faster, easy jogging, running, and sprinting. All those small things we often neglect… I started finding success in those, and that made him very happy too. We motivated each other every single day to get back in better shape, and hopefully, by next month, I can start jumping again. It will be a win-win situation for both of us.

When do you think you can return to competitive jumping?

I’m expecting to make a comeback by June or July, hopefully. My immediate goal is the World Championships. I’m not expecting anything big in terms of results; I just want to be part of the Indian contingent, as it will set the tone for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games as well.